Control mechanism for golf-ball-winding machines



Mamh 6, 192s. 1,661,860

E. G. TEMPLETON CONTROL MEGHANISM FOR GOLF BALL WINDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 30. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR EdwinGJmpLelon.

ATTORN EY March 6, 1928. 1,661,860

E. G. TEMPLETON CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GOLF BALL WINDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 30. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR y,

Edwin G mple imi.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN G. TEMPLETON, 0F AKRON, OHIO,(ASSIGNOR TO 'HE GOODYEAR TIRE & BUB- a BER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A GOBIEORATION` OF- OHIO.

ooir'rnor.v MECHANISM ron GoLF-BALL-WINDING MACHINES.

Application filed September 30, 1926. Serial No. 138,784.

My invention relates to thread winding machines, and it has particular reference to means for controlling the motion thereof Vinding machines are employed in t e manufacture of golf balls, which have a core vcomposed of'rubber thread-that is vwound under a high degree of tension. The thread frequently breaks during the winding operai tion, and it is desirable, upon the occurrence of this event, to stop the machine, in order that the partially Wound ball may not become unraveled. A It is the primary object of the invention to provide means to stop the winding machine upon the occurrence of a break in the thread, .or of a marked decrease in the tension exerted thereon. Another object of the s invention resides in the provision of an electrical control system for automatically governing the motion of the machine.

. 'Other objects, and the advantages to be derived from a practice of the invention, will become apparent from a perusal of the following detailed description of a preferred form of control mechanism, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ball winding machine having an electrical control 4 system associated therewith ;l

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partially in side elevation, and partiallyl in cross-section, of the assembly shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the elements of the control system as they appear while the machine is running; and,

Fig. 4 is a diagram'of the electrical control circuit.

The winding machine comprises a frame 11, provided with a pair of oppositely dlsosed upright members 12 and 13 that have earings positioned therein for the recep.

tion of shafts 14, upon which are slidably mounted ball supporting rollers 15. The movement of the rollers 15 inja longitudinal direction does not form the subject matter of this invention, but it is described in detail and cl'aimedin a co ending application of Joseph P. Griggs, gerial No. 138,714,

filed Sept. 30, 1.926 and assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

The frame 11 is formed with an upwardly projecting portion 16 that terminates in a guide block 17 overhanging the rollers 15. A post 18 is mounted for sliding movement in the block 17, and it has a bracket 19 secured to its lower end, in which is rotatably mounted a pressure roller 21. The upper end of the post 18 is pivotally connected to one end of a counter-weightedK lever 22, that the end of one of the roller shafts 14. The

motor 25 is controlled by means of a switch 28 that is mounted on a pedestal 29 disposed adjacent the machine. The switch 28 may be of an ordinary type that is operated by movement of a snap lever 31. lThis lever is mechanically connected to a tripping mecha- Inism on the machine that is actuated when the ball is wound to a predetermined diameter, or when the thread is broken.

The tripping mechanism comprises a bracket 32 that is secured to the frame 16 adjacent the -block 17, and which is formed with aligned upwardly projectin flanges 33 and '34. Each vflange has a guie slot 35 formed therein, for slidably receivin an operating lever 36. The forward eng lever 36 is provided with a handle 37 to facilitate its manipulation. The rear portion of the lever 36 is connected to the lever .31, by means of a rigid link 38 that is aiiixed of the to the member 36 and is pivotally connected,

as indicated at 39, to the switch.

A coiled spring 41, having one of its ends secured to the flange 33, and the opposite end to the lever 36, as indicated at 42, serves to draw the lever 36 toward the motor 25, to a position in which the switch 28 is open and in which the operation of the machine is prevented. This position ispillustrated in Fig. 1. The lever 36 may be pulled forward by grasping the handle 37, to close the Switch 28, and in order to maintain it in this position, a notch 43 is cut in the lever 36, to overlap the edge of the slot 35 in the flangel 34. The parts are then in the o rating, or running position, as illustrate in Figs. 2 and 3. i

It will be observed that the pressure roller 21' moves upwardly as the ball is wound and increases in diameter. To stop the machine when the proper amount of thread has been applied,v there is provided a bumper 44 that pushes the lever 36 upwardly, to disengage yao the notch 43 from the slot 35, and allow the spring 41 to withdraw the lever 36. This bumper 44 comprisesa set screw that is adjustably mounted on a boss 45 formed on the bracket 19. The screw may be placed in any desired position, to obtain thereby a ball of any given diameter.

The mechanism for `.opening the switch upon the occurrence of thread breakage comrises a system of electrically operated evers or links, which are actuated to lift the notch 43 above the'edge of the slot 35 and to permit thespring 41 to exert its force upon t e lever 36.

A journal bearing 51 is mounted on the frame 11 between the upright members 12 and 13, and a shaft 52 is disposed therein having levers 53 and 54 keyed to the 'opposite ends thereof. A rubber block 55 is mounted on the extremity of the lever 53',

and to its upper face is secured an arcuate uide and contact member 56, that may be ormed from a piece of glass tubing. This member is adapted to bear against a tensioned thread T to govern the operation of the elements of the controlling system.

' The lever 54 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a link 57, that extends rearwardly to a lever 58, to which it is also pivotally connected. The lever 58 is keyed to a bearing member 591 that is rotatably mounted in a pair of suitably disposed bearing members 61. member 59 is in the form of a pair of aligned trunnions, which are secured to the opposite sides of a mercury contact switch 62 that is em loyed as a controlling device for the tripplng levers. A rod 63, having a counterweight 64 adjustably mounted thereon, is secured adjacent the lever 58 to one of the trunnions forming the shaft 59.

The counterweight 64 is sodisposed with l respect to the switch 62 that it tends to tilt motion causes the switch at an angle to the horizontal, causing the mercury to flow to one end, thereby openin the electrical circuit. This e lower end of the lever 58 to be forced toward the block 55, to move this member downwardly and outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1. When, however, the thread T is stretched over the guide 56 to the ball supporting rollers, the tension exerted thereon forces the block 55 upwardly.

The electrical current of the circuit that is controlled by means of the switch 62, traverses a solenoid 66, in which a laminated soft iron core 67 is positioned, that is mounted on a bracket 68 below the rear end portion of the lever guide v32. An apertured boss 69 is formed on a retaining piece 71 for the core 67, and is provided witha pin l72 ositioned therein, that constitutes a support or an armature 73 pivotally mounted there.

on. The armature 73 is formed with an outwardly projecting arm'74, which pivotally Preferably the bearing` 67, resultin supports an upwardly projecting link 75 at its outer extremity.

As best shown in Fi 3, the armature 73 is formed of laminated strips of iron, and it isadapted 'to be drawn upwardly, thereby forcing the outer end 74, and the link 75 associated therewith, downwardly. A sto member 76 may be positioned at the mi portion of the armature 73 to limit the displacement of the link 75 and itsv related mechanism.

A bifurcated lu0F 77 is secured to the upper end of the link 75 to provide a clevised connection for one end of a lever 78 that extends under `the guide member 32, and

that is pivotally mounted on the frame portion 16 by means of a stud 79. The opposite end 80 of the lever 78 is turned at an angle to the main portion thereof and it is disposed adjacent the outer face of the iiange 34 of the member 32, and in proximity to the lower edge of the slot 35. The moment of the armature 73 is suiicient to lcause it to move downwardly, thus lowering the end 80 of the arm 78 below the lower edge of the slot 35 to permit the engagement of the notch 43 therewith,

lBy referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that during the winding operation, the thread T exerts a force on the member 56, causing the mercury switch 62 to be maintained in an open position. When the thread breaks, or the tension therein drops below a predetermined value, the counterweight 64 causes the switch 62 to assume a horizontal position, thereby closing the electric circuit which includes the solenoid 66, and which is shunted on the main line circuit passing through the motor 25 and the switch 28. Magnetization of the iron core freni the completion Yof the shunt circuit, causes the armature 73 to move upwardl thereby forcing the arm 8O in the same direction vto dislodge the notch 43 from the slot 35 formed in the bracket 34.

Thel force exerted by the spring 43 effects a. withdrawal of the operating lever 36, to ope'n the switch 28 in the main line. When this event occurs the armature 73 is released and the arm 80 moves downwardly, since the shunt circuit is also opened by the movement of the switch 28. The break in the thread may then be repaired, thus causing the switch 62 to resume a'slantin position and opening the shunt circuit at t is point.

vThe lever 36 may be pulled forward until the instance, the machine will be stopped by the is released by means of the pressure exerted by the bumper 44. Y A

The control system thus provided is highly eicient and rapid in its operation, and hence, losses due to the unraveling of partially wound balls are avoided. The system depends for its operation upon the tension exerted on the thread, and 1t may be so adjusted as to effect a stoppage whenever the tension drops below a predetermined value.- Obviously, various rearrangements and modifications may be made without departing froml the principles of the invention, and it isfdesired that only those limitations should be imposed on the scope thereof as are set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A winding machine comprising a frame, a bracket formed withv upwardly projecting arms secured to the frame, a control lever vslidably mounted in the arms, a spring tending to urge the lever in'one direction, a control element for an electric circuit secured to one end of the control lever, a notch formed in the lever, an engaging finger for the notch adapted to hold the lever in operative position, a trip mechanism ,for the lever, and means to actuate the trip mechanism to free the lever upon the occurrence ofthread breakage. y

2. A 'thread winding machinecomprising a frame, a source of power for driving the machine, a control switch for the source `of power, an operating lever 1for the `control switch slidably mounted adjacent the frame, means to retain the lever in a position to close the switch, and means associated with a thread to be wound4 to positively move the operating lever to disengage it'from its retaining means upon the occurrence of thread breakage. Y

3. A thread winding machine comprising a frame, a source of power for driving the machine, a control switch for the source o f power, anu operatingI lever for the control switch slidably mounted adjacent the frame,

. 'means to retain the lever in a position to close thev switch, means-associated with a thread to be wound to, positivel move the operating lever todisengage it roml its retaining means upon the occurrence of thread breakage and means to' positively engage the operating lever to release it whentho massv of wound thread attains a predetermined size.

4. A control mechanism for winding machines comprising driving means for the machine, means including a pivoted snap lever for controlling operation of the driving means, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever supported by the bracket, means operatively connecting the operating lever to the snap lever, means for removably retaining the operating lever in an opera tive position, resilientmeans for. automatically moving the operating lever to an inoperative position when released from the retaining means and means for engaging and positively moving the operating lever clear of its retaining means upon thread breakage.

5. A control mechanism for winding machines comprising driving means for the machine, means including a pivoted snap llever for controlling operation of the driving means, a bracket secured to the frame, an operating lever slidably supported by the bracket, means opera-tively connecting the operating lever to the snap lever, coactingf means, a bracket secured to the frame, an

operating lever supported bythe bracket, means, operatively connecting the operating lever to the snap lever, means for removably retaining'the operating lever in an opera-v tive position, resilient means for automatically moving the operating lever to an inoperativeposition when released fromthe retaining means and means for engaging and positively movin-g the operatinr lever clear of-its retaining means upon tlread breakage, the means for moving the operating lever comprising a thread contacting member, a pivotally mounted mercury switch, means operatively connecting the contacting member an'd switch, a magnet including a coil energized by the mercury switch, an armature ivoted adjacent the magnet to be move thereby, as lever pivotally mounted intermediate; its endsbeneath the operating lever and means connecting the armand lever whereby movement of the armature will cause the lever to positively engage the operating lever to release it from its retaining means.

7. A control mechanism for winding machines comprising driving means for the ma-l chine, means including a pivoted sna lever for controlling operation of the diiving means, a bracket secured to the frame, an

.operating lever supported by the bracket,-

means operatively connecting the operating lever to the snap lever, means for removably retaining the operating lever in any operative posltion, resilient means for automatically moving the o erating llever to an inoperative position w en released from the retaining means, means for engaging and posi- 1 'ver clear of tively movingI the operating its retaining means upon thread breakage, and separate means for engaging and positively moving the o erating lever clear of its retaining means Wien the mass of thread being Wound has attained a predetermined size.

8l A' control mechanism for Winding machines comprising driving means for the machine, means including a pivoted snap lever for controlling operation of the driving means, a bracket secured tothe frame, an operating lever slidably supported by the bracket, means operatively connecting the operating lever to the snap lever, coacting means 'on the operating lever and bracket for removably retaining theY operating lever in an operative position, resilient means for automatically moving the operating lever to an inoperative position when released from the retaining means, means for engaging and positively moving the operating leverpclear of its retaining means upon .thread breakage and separate means for engaging and positively moving the operating lever clear of its retaining means when the mass of thread b eing wound has atta-ined a predetermined size. f

9. Apcontrol mechanism for winding miiand mechanical means for engaging and positively moving the member to free it from the retaining means to stop the machine when the wound mass reaches a predetermined size.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EDWIN G. TEMPLETON 

